Overall, it's been a great year for music once again. Though it seemed that classic metal, retro hard rock, and prog outdid extreme metal this year (in my opinion anyway) there was still some killer music across all genres here in 2014. Though I listened to HUNDREDS of new releases this year, there are still many that I did not get to, including some higher profile releases, so apologies to any deserving bands who are absent from this list and did not make the cut.

Live Albums
Queen : Live at the Rainbow 74
Marbin : The Third Set
Deep Purple : Graz 1975
Satan : Trial of Fire - Live in North America
Brand X : Live at the Roxy LA
Steve Hillage : Rainbow 77
Sweet : Level Headed Tour Rehearsals 1977
The Allman Brothers Band : Play All Night Live at the Beacon Theatre 1992
Little Feat : Live in Holland 1976
Stray : Live in Japan 2013
Deep Purple : Live in California 74
Gary Moore : Live at Bush Hall 2007
Todd Rundgren and Utopia : Live at the Electric Ballroom
Whitesnake : Live in 1984 - Back to the Bone
Status Quo : The Frantic Four's Final Fling, Live at the Dublin 02 Arena
Heart : Fanatic Live From Caesers Colosseum
The Move : Live at the Fillmore 1969
Blackberry Smoke: Leave a Scar : Live in North Carolina
Keith Jarrett/Charlie Haden/Paul Motian : Hamburg '72
Frogg Cafe : Admiral's Picks, Volume 1

These are my favourite releases from what has been another outstanding year in progressive rock:

Heliopolis : City of the Sun - (An album of superb craftsmanship and musicianship. My favourite of the year.)
The Samurai of Prog : The Imperial Hotel - (The entire package is stunning. An absolute must for fans of classic symphonic prog.)
Opeth : Pale Communion - (I personally love the 'new' Opeth and this is one of their strongest albums to date.)
Strattman : The Lie of the Beholder - (Progressive rock that your friend may actually like. Great album.)
Majestic : Epsilon 2 - (My favourite Majestic release so far. A must for fans of classic/spacey progressive rock.)
Anubis Gate : Horizons - (One of the best progressive metal albums of the year.)
Vanden Plas : Chronicles of the Immortals Netherworld [path one] - (The German progressive metal band has seldom disappointed and their latest continues that trend.)
Supernal Endgame : Touch The Sky - Volume II - (Another uplifting, delightfully crafted album in the grand tradition of classic '70s prog.)
Nick Magnus : n'monix - (A delightful symphonic prog album from the veteran keyboardist.)
Glass Hammer : Ode To Echo - (Another major opus from one of the most consistent progressive rock bands in recent times.)
Lunatic Soul : Walking on a Flashlight Beam - (The Riverside front man delivers another outstanding release.)
Mastodon : Once More 'Round The Sun - (An aural assault of heavy riffs and melodic hooks and I love it.)
Iluvatar : From The Silence - (One of the nicest surprises of the year, especially after such a long absence.)
Tiles : Off The Floor 02 - (A highly energetic performance from a very classy band.)
Epica : The Quantum Enigma - (Another heavy, epic release from the Netherlands.)
Matt Stevens : Lucid - (One of the best instrumental albums of the year.)
Druckfarben : Second Sound - (An excellent sophomore effort from this up and coming Canadian band.)
Necromonkey : A Glimpse Of Possible Endings - (A masterful slice of eclectic prog.)
Seven Impale : City Of The Sun - (The Norwegian band's first album is a major achievement and just a joy to listen to.)
Proud Peasant : Flight - (Three epic instrumental tracks. What's not to like?)
Majestic : Epsilon 1 - (The first of two albums in 2014 and it's a beauty.)
MoeTar : Entropy of the Century - (A refreshing ride into the quirkier realm of art rock.)
Gong : I See You - (As diverse an album you will hear this year.)
Farpoint : Paint The Dark - (Melodic and accessible progressive rock that will have you hitting the repeat button.)
Cross : Da Capo - (One of the most melodic progressive rock albums you will hear this year.)
Ian Anderson : Homo Erraticus - (A very enjoyable and dare I say 'Tull' sounding album from Mr. Anderson.)
PHI : Now The Waves Of Sound Remain - (Top quality progressive rock from Austria.)
Monarch Trail : Skye - (Excellent symphonic/neo prog from Canada.)
Quantum Fantay : Terragaia - (Delightful space driven prog from Belgium.)
Tinkicker : The Cup of the Lord and the Wine of Demons - (The Denmark quintet have delivered their most melodic album to date.)
Anton Roolaart : The Plight of Lady Oona - (Mellow symphonic prog doesn't get much better than this.)
Margin : Psychedelic Teatime - (A must for fans of Pink Floyd.)
Oceans Of Night : Midnight Rising - (Classy metal from the first song to the last.)
Times Up : Sea of Schemes - (A change in direction and another excellent release from the UK proggers.)
Neal Morse : Songs From November - (An uplifting and highly enjoyable pop album from Mr. Morse.)

Live Albums
1. WET : One Live In Stockholm
2. Heart : Fanatic Live From Caesars Colosseum
3. Whitesnake : Live In '84 Back To The Bone
4. Marillion : A Sunday Night Beneath The Rain
5. Transatlantic : KaLIVEoscope
6. Lillian Axe : One Night In The Temple
7. Touchstone : Live Inside Outside
8. Stryper : Live At The Whiskey
9. Saxon : St. George's Day Sacrifice - Live In Manchester
10. Wildhearts : Rock City Vs The Wildhearts

Despite all the doom and gloom we read about there was no shortage of albums in 2014 from past and new bands. I could have done another extensive list but I decided to keep it down to my standouts. Besides album releases I found both Max Cavalera's "My Bloody Roots" and Michael Sweet's "Honestly" to be good reading material.

U2 : Songs of Innocence - (Surprise! They created one of their best albums and then gave it away to the world. Thanks. Proof that the older, stronger bands can still make music that is both inspiring and innovative. Best album from an established group in a very long time.)
United Progressive Fraternity : Fall in Love with the World - (Thanks Mark and the band for including my voice on the title track. One of the best progressive albums in recent years and further proof there will be innovative music after Unitopia. Steve Hackett, Jon Anderson, and more surprises to come. Can't wait. They're already working on album II.)
Lake Street Dive : Bad Self Portraits - (Racheal is my singer of the year. No one even came close. So glad to find another new band in a year which did not produce many surprises.)
Voiciano : Everflow - (Sabine sounds as good as ever…if not better with piano and acoustic guitar support. Arjen's surprise participation was an added bonus.)
Kaipa : Sattyg - (The best pure progressive album of the year. This band is perfectly consistent with top ten level albums.)
Phillip Phillips : Behind the Light - (One of the best new artists I heard this year.)
Michael Stanley : The Job - (Another solid album for one of my birth town favorites. Michael also is proof that the more established bands can still make intriguing music.)
Laura Casale : Now is Where You Are - (A lifetime in the preparation and Laura unleashed her best.)
Henta Ellis : Beautiful Creation - (Henta's second album is even more profound than her first…if that was even possible.)
Flaming Row : Mirage - A Portrait of Figures - (The best pure prog/metal album of the year for me. Arjen's inclusion helped make this one of the best.)
Ume : Monuments - (The first album I reviewed this year. One of the best. They are also hard at work on their next.)
Majestic : Epsilon I & II - (Jeff continues his extraordinary talent of finding artists and creating sounds that are out of this world.)
Proud Peasant : Flight - (Another new band I discovered and want to hear more of in the future. They have an innovative way of melding the past with the present.)
Stream of Passion : A War of Our Own - (Good album with a hint to the past. If only all of the songs would have been as perfect as "For You".)

Best New Artists of 2013
United Progressive Fraternity
Lake Street Dive
Voiciano
Laura Casale
Lana del Rey
Imagine Dragons
Phillip Phillips
Spoon
Head and the Heart
Paolo Nutini
Proud Peasant
Forever Still
Best Comebacks
United Progressive Fraternity : Unitopia may be gone but the progressive fraternity has grown.

Top 10 Movies of 2013
The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies : Sad to see it end. Excellent trilogy.
Hunger Games: Mocking Jay I : Great…but too short. Looking forward to the conclusion next year.
Divergent : I'm hooked.

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